Locomotive toy.



No. 693,375. Patented Feb. 18, 1902 v D. P. CLARK.

LOCUMUTIVE TOY.

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' 110. 693,375. Patented Feb. I8, 1902.

' D. P. CLARK.

LOGOMOTlV-E TOY.

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7 ing had therein to UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID P. CLARK, O-F DAYTON, OHIO.

LOCOMOTIVE TOY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 693,37 5, datedFebruary 18, 1902.

Application filed April 11, 1901. Serial No. 55,282 (No model.) I

To alt whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, DAVID P. CLARK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Locomotive Toys, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference bethe accompanyingdrawings.

This invention relates to locomotive toys and is in the nature of animprovement upon the construction set forth in an application filed byme September 27, 1900, Serial No. 31,218.

The present invention has for its object, among other things, toprovidea construction wherein the ground-wheels or running-wheels shallbe located outside of the frame, so as to give a greater width ofwheel-base to the toy, and thus obtain increased stability.

A further object of my present invention is to increase the efficiencyof the contact between theinertia-Wheel axle and the running- Wheels,and thereby correspondingly increase the period of automatic operationof the toy.

To these and other ends my present invention consists in certain novelfeatures, which I will now proceed to describe and will thenparticularly point out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation, partly insection, of the operative parts of a locomotive toyembodying myinvention in one form. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is aside elevation illustrating a modified form of construction, and Fig. 4is a plan View of the structure shown in Fig. 3.

Referring first to the form of construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, 1indicates a supporting-frame of any suitable form-such, for instance,asthe rectangular form shownwhich frame is adapted to receive atoy-vehicle body or any other suitable device of a similar character. 2indicates the inertia-wheel, which is mounted on an axle 3, said axlebeing in turn mounted in bearings at on the frame 1, and said bearingsbeing preferably ball-bearings. The ends of the inertia-wheel axleproject beyond the frame at each side thereof, as indicated at 5, andthe frame may be provided with an outwardly-extending anddownwardly-bent arm 6 adjacent to each end of the inertia-wheel axle andserving to prevent excessive longitudinal movement ofsaid axle, at thesame time acting as a guard to cover and protect the ends of said axle.In the particular construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 Iemploy two pairsof ground or running wheels 7, each pair mounted on a common axle 8,said axles being located at opposite ends of the frame and on oppositesides of the inertia-wheel. Each axle 8 is mounted in arms 9, pivoted at'10 to the frame 1, and in the preferred'construction shown said armsare located on the innerside of the frame and are connected by across-piece 11, so that the arms 10 and cross-piece llform a swingingyoke in which the axle 8 has its bearings. Each axle8exteuds throughcurved slots or openings 12 in' the side pieces of the frame 1, and therunning-Wheels 7 are secured to the axles outside of said frame 1, asshown. The pivots 10 and arms 9 are so located and the running-wheels 7are of such dimensions that when the toy is placed upon asupporting-surface and downward pressure is exerted upon the frame thetwo pairs of running wheels 7 will be forced toward each other andtoward the axle of the inertia-wheel, which latter will come intocontact with and impinge against the peripheries of the wheels with awedging or biting action, thereby effecting a much more efficientfrictional contact between said parts. The pairs of wheels will,moreover, operate with equal force on opposite sides of theinertia-wheel axle, so that the pressure on said axle will be to a greatextent equalized. By locating the arms 9 on the inside of the frame 1 Iam enabled to connect each pair of arms, so as to insure their moving inunison, and by forming the slots through the frame Iam enabled to extendthe axles outside of the frame and locate therunning-wheels on theseoutside portions, thereby increasing the width of the wheel-base and thestability of the toy.

It will be understood, of course, that the toy is operated in'the usualand well-known manner by exerting pressure downward upon the frame andmoving the toy overasuitable surface until the desired momentum has beenimparted to the inertia-wheel, whereupon when the toy is released saidwheel will in turn impart its motion to the run hing-wheels,

and thereby cause the toy to move over any suitable surface on which itmay be placed for a considerable period of time and for a considerabledistance.

While I have shown the pivots of the arms 9 as located between therunning-wheel axles and the inertia-wheel axle, and while I prefer thisarrangement on account of its superior compactness, yet I do not wish tobe understood, as limiting myself to such a location of these pivots.

In Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings I have shown a modified structure inwhich only one pair of running-wheels is mounted upon an axle movabletoward and from the inertiawheel axle. In this construction the frontrunning-wheels, which are indicated at 13, are mounted upon an axle 14,carried by a yoke 15, connected with the frame by a vertical pivot 16.In this construction the front wheels act as guiding-wheels only and maybe set at an angle, so as to cause the toy to move in a circular path.

It is obvious from What precedes that modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the principle of my invention, and I therefore do notwish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise details ofconstruction hereinbefore described, and shown in the accompanyingdrawings.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A locomotive toy comprisingasupporting-frame, an inertia-wheel having an axle mounted in bearings insaid frame, ground or running wheels supporting said frame, and pivotedarms connecting one pair of said running-wheels with said frame,whereby, when downward pressure is exerted on the frame, the peripheriesof said running-wheels will be forced into contact with theinertia-wheel axle, substantially as described.

2. A locomotive toy comprising a supportin g-frame, and an inertia-wheelprovided with an axle mounted in hearings in said frame, in combinationwith ground or running wheels supporting said frame, and pivoted armsconnecting one pair of said running-wheels with said frame, said pivotedarms being rigidly connected to move in unison, whereby, when downwardpressure is exerted on said frame, said running-wheels will be forcedagainst the inertia-wheel axle, substantially as described.

3. A locomotive toy comprising a supporting-frame, and an inertia-wheelprovided with an axle mounted in hearings in said frame and extendinglaterally beyond said frame, in combination with ground or runningwheels supporting said frame, and pivoted arms connecting one pair ofsaid running-wheels with said frame, said frame being provided withcurved slots, and said running-wheels being provided with an axle havingits hearings in said pivoted arms and extending through the slots in theframe, the wheels being mounted on the ends of said axle outside of saidframe and being arranged to contact with the inertia-wheel axle whensaid frame is depressed, substantially as described.

4. A locomotive toy comprising a frame, an inertia-wheel provided withan axle mounted in hearings in said frame, ground or running wheelsmounted in pairs on axles located on opposite sides of saidinertia-wheel axle, and pivoted arms connecting said ground or runningwheels with said frame, whereby, when said frame is depressed, the pairsof runningwheels will bear with equal force on opposite sides of theinertia-wheel axle, substantially as described.

5. A locomotive toy comprising a frame, and an inertia-wheel having anaxle mounted in bearings in said frame and extending laterally beyondthe same on each side, in combination with two running-wheel axleslocated on opposite sides of the inertia-wheel axle, pivoted armsconnecting each runningwheel axle with the frame, said frame beingprovided with curved slots through which the running-wheel axles extend,and runningwheels mounted on the projecting ends of said axles outsideof the frame, and adapted to bear on opposite sides of the inertia-wheelaxle when the frame is depressed, substantially as described.

6. A locomotive toy comprising a frame, an inertia-wheel having an axlemountedin bearings in said frame and extending beyond the same at eachside, two running-wheel axles located on opposite sides of saidinertia-wheel, each running-wheel axle having its bearings in a pair ofrigidly-connected arms pivoted to the inside of the frame between saidrunhing-wheel axle and the inertia-wheel axle, said running-wheel axlesextending through curved slots in the frame, and'running-wheels mountedon the projecting ends of said axles and adapted to bear on oppositesides of the inertia-wheel axle when the frame is depressed,substantially as described.

7. In a locomotive toy of the character described, the combination, witha frame, and running-Wheels supporting the same, of an inertia-wheelhaving an axle mounted in bearings in said frame and projecting beyondthe same, said frame being provided with outwardly and downwardlyextending projections over the ends of the inertia-wheel axle, whichserve as guards and as stops to limit the longitudinal movement of saidaxle, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID P. CLARK.

Witnesses:

O. B. TROUT, IRVINE MILLER.

